Final Fling is the home of life and death decisions – the community for this critical life stage.

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Hospices

Hospices provide homely, comfortable settings where people get support to live at the end of life.

The hospice approach – providing care and easing pain rather than trying to treat symptoms – has been around for centuries but the movement really took off in the 60s thanks to Dame Cicely Saunders. That was really the start of the medical profession recognising the need for care for people who are not going to get better.

Hospices across the UK provide care, compassion and help in coping with emotional and spiritual as well as physical concerns. There are hospices for children, hospices for adults and hospices that provide respite care for families.

They provide help to the whole family – not just the patient. Help the Hospices is developing an online resource to help people find the help they need with life-limiting conditions and terminal illness.

Our friends at Rosetta Life produced this inspiring film about Linda’s choice to stop treatment for terminal cancer and her life enhancing experience of hospice care. Their film, The Glass Half Full, portrays how Linda faces the reality of end of life with spirit and a sense of resolution.

We were delighted to find out from CHAS, who run amazing hospices for children and young people in Scotland, that they thought young people in their care would really benefit from Final Fling.

Hospices provide wonderful care but sometimes a young person needs to exercise their independence in the middle of that care. Final Fling provides a safe place for people to go to make their own plans and update them as their life and their views change. And during time in hospices, it’s not uncommon for views to change.

3 key facts about hospices

Hospices are warm, friendly places that offer day car as well as longer term care

Hospices offer a level of care and support that’s less clinical than care in a hospital

Hospices can offer art therapy, play, physical therapies and emotional peer support from other users.

Hospices in your area

Find a hospice near you or find out a bit more about the role of hospices on this NHS site.

Final Fling is for people who like to be in control of life and death decisions. Know your options. Make choices. Leave instructions. Stay in charge. Right till the end. And meantime, live life to the full.